Celery And Stress

SCIENCE AND MEDICINE - SCOPE

May 10, 1992

A compound in celery has been found to lower blood pressure by allowing arteries to open while reducing the levels of stress hormones that cause them to constrict, according to a study conducted by the University of Chicago. A small daily dose of the compound, 3-n-butyl phthalide, lowered blood pressure in rats by up to 14 percent, reported William Elliott, one of the researchers. The same amount of the compound, equivalent to about four stalks of celery, also lowered the rats' cholesterol by 7 percent, Elliott found. He said people with high blood pressure probably should not eat large amounts of celery because the vegetable contains salt, which may increase blood pressure.